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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Landmark Commission - 08/25/2011 MINUTES 'RE1, CITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI Eve® LANDMARK Y COUNCILICHAM ERS MEETING DEC 2 3 ?OCIT " AUGUST 25, 2011 CIlySECRETgRY,S CSCE MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman Ms. Laura Commons Mr. Anthony Gavlik Ms. Karen Howden Dr. James Klein Mr. John Olson Dr. Mark Robbins MEMBERS ABSENT: Ms. Kim Charba (Excused) Ms. Kris Cardona (Excused) Ms. Anita Eisenhauer (Excused) Ms. Marie Guajardo (Excused) Mr. Herb Morrison (Excused) Mr. Leo Rios (Excused) Ms. Susie Rucker (Excused) STAFF PRESENT: Mr. Andrew Dimas, City Planner Ms. Linda Williams, Recording Secretary The meeting was called to order at 4:45 p.m. by Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman. The roll was called and a quorum was not present. ACTION ITEMS: Approve July 28, 2011 Minutes: The July 28, 2011 minutes will be approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting, September 22, 2011. Recommendation to Fill the Vacancy of Mary Lou Berven, Historian: A recommendation will be submitted at the next regularly scheduled meeting, September 22, 2011. Awards Committee's Recommendation for Honorees for 2011 Awards Recognition: Committee's recommendation will be officially ratified at the next regularly scheduled meeting, September 22, 2011. The recommendation was previously scheduled as a discussion item for the July 28, 2011 meeting and action was taken on the recommendation. DISCUSSION ITEM: Powerpoint Presentation on the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse: Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman, stated that he, along with Commissioners Dr. Klein, Dr, Robbins, Ms. Eisenhauer and Ms. Karen Howden attended a presentation given by Nueces County Commissioner Mike Pusley on the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse and why the Nueces County Commission was pursuing demolition of the structure. Mr. Thompson stated the presentation was not very lengthy, but he wanted to present it to so the commission would be informed of the County Commissioners' effort in trying to get the courthouse demolished. After the presentation, discussion ensued regarding the Commissioners' effort. Mr. Thompson stated that, as shown in the presentation, the structural engineering study conducted by LNV Engineering found the structure to be unsound and cost to renovate the courthouse exceeds $40.1 million. The courthouse has deteriorated severely after being closed for more than thirty (30) years in 1977 when the new courthouse was constructed at its current location. SCANNED r Landmark Commission Meeting August 25,2011 Page 2 Mr. Thompson stated that Commissioner Pusley pushed for the engineering analysis to be done on the building and he plans to use those results to petition the Texas Historical Commission for the building's demolition. The cost of demolition was estimated to be $2 to 3 million. Ms. Howden stated several years ago she took one of her history classes on a tour of the building. Ms. Howden shared that when she was a young girl, she knew the daughter of the jailer for the courthouse and the family lived in an apartment on premise inside of the courthouse close to the jail. Ms. Howden continued that the courthouse was a fantastic building on the inside and it was sad that the historical community could not come together and get the structure renovated. Ms. Howden continued that the city of Corpus Christi was a very transient community and most of the citizens do not have a connection to the courthouse. To most of the community, the building has become an eyesore for the city. Ms. Howden stated that Commissioner Pusley commented that the 1914 County Courthouse was the biggest courthouse in the state of Texas. Ms. Howden continued that the back and forth in ownership • did not help the situation. Mr. Dusty Durrill owned the courthouse at one time, but when the county received grant funding from THC, the county was in ownership of the building and was still the owner. There never has been a development plan that was feasible that would work. It seems that we should come together to save at least part of building, but in order to do so, a plan was needed. Mr. Gavlik asked if it would be a feasible option for the County Historical Commission and the Landmark Commission to combine efforts in trying to find private dollars to possibly renovate the structure and Mr. Thompson answered that at this point, the problem would be trying to find that much money available. Mr. Thompson stated he recalled the old courthouse as a child and thought the building was fantastic. Mr. Thompson continued that the community needed to be re-programmed in its thinking that everything old should be torn down instead of maintaining the older structures. Mr. Thompson stated that it would be awesome if the portion of the courthouse that was added in the 1930 could be renovated and re-used. Dr. Robbins stated the entire scenario was very frustrating and sad that a very important part of the city's historical history was being demolished just like the Memorial Coliseum. With no clear cut plan in place, what will happen at that location will be a vacant site. After all comments and discussion concluded, no action was taken. Dr. Robbins stated he completed short presentations for the 2011 recipients for the Landmark Commission awards. Dr. Robbins provided copies of the information for the recommended recipients: • Ms. Carol Wood, Leadership Award, for her effort and hard work in compiling the necessary information for the application for the National Registry of Historic Places nomination on behalf of the Memorial Coliseum; • Sherman Building — Mr. Bill Hoover was selected for re-adaptive reuse of the Sherman Building. The building has been known by several names—the Jones Building, and most commonly known now as the Nueces Building. The building is one of the oldest buildings in the city and Mr. Bill Hoover did an excellent job in restoring the building and was able to retain a lot of the building's original character by leaving the interior intact ; and • Blucher House— It was nominated because of its architectural and historical significance and its complete restoration by a local law firm. Mr. Thompson stated that once he gets the certificates he would like to have them mounted and framed for the presentation. Mr. Thompson stated he would contact the law firm and Mr. Hoover for the nominations of the Blucher House and the Sherman Building. Mr. Thompson continued that he would be at the luncheon and he would give present the certificates. • - 6 Landmark Commission Meeting August 25,2011 Page 3 After further discussion, no action was taken. There being no further business, the meeting concluded at 6 p.m. • 6. •f :. 11/0 - Linda W lams Andrew K. Dimas, City Planner Recordin• Secretary Staff Liaison to Landmark Commission (K:DEVELOPMENTSVCS\LINDA\WORD\LANDMARK\MINUTES\2011).\UG2511 MINUTES.MTG) SUMMARY SHEET LANDMARK COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 25, 2011 1. Mr. Craig Thompson, Chairman, gave a power point presentation on the 1914 Nueces County Courthouse as part of a presentation given by County Commissioner Mike Pusley.